Sins of The Father Part iv Moving On(Unbreakable Resolution)

Galloping Goose Inn
Just North of Minot, North Dakota ‘Murica
November 22nd, 2020


[ John was tired from his ride back to Minot after pinning the Rising Star Champion, and then he ran into some weather that took the wind out of his sails. He’s at a cheap mom and pop Motel just north of Minot where he could have some privacy after meeting with the heavy hitters again that are gonna run protection for the heroin they had started to funnel into Western Canada. John had his doubts about this arrangement and didn’t enjoy seeing some of these Warlock MC members that had agreed to work in the American midwest with The Brothers of Mayhem in the Canadian Prairies. John sat at the small table in his clean but shitty room, his elbows on the edge of it as he rolled a joint to unwind from his busy day. He made sure the guys got him some Canadian bud as he wasn’t the biggest fan of American or Mexican brick weed.]


JNS: “Smells alright.”


[ He sips on a Miller High Life talking to himself as he finishes the joint rolling with a roll of his thumbs and a lick to seal the glue to paper. He pulls out his Red Wing theme Zippo Lighter and the sizzle of fire to paper fills his ears as he takes a deep drag and lets out a long sigh. He leans back and shuffles down to stretch out his legs. He casually smokes his spliff looking into nothing when there is a knock at the door, he places the joint in the ashtray, and he gets up to answer. He is greeted by a young woman, maybe 22 but definitely over 19 with platinum blonde hair that the best way to describe her is Miley Cyrus knock off. ]


JNS: “You must be Cassandra.”


Cassandra: “You bet that pretty face of yours I am, sugar.”


[ He grins stepping back to let her enter, as he closes the door, and turns to greet his companion for the evening she is already greeting him placing her hands on his shoulders. It had been a long time since he dated anyone as he preferred to keep his love life like this, a simple transaction. He placed his powerful hands on her hips, looked down into her green eyes, as she gently pushed him back into his chair. ]


Cassandra: “Relax baby, Ricky told me you needed to unwind...”


[ He wasn’t going to protest as he fell back into the seat with a bit of playfulness causing her to laugh. He winked and picked up his joint placing it between his lips as her hands made quick work of his belt buckle. ]


JNS: “Hmm...”


[ Sometimes when he closed his eyes he would see her but that’s for another time. ]


Galloping Goose Inn
November 23rd, 2020


[ John woke up the following morning and the lady of the evening was long gone. His phone was the culprit of waking him so he kinda grabs it forcefully off the nightstand. He rubs his face as he looks at the iPhone XR screen to see the raven-haired blue eyed sister appear on the screen. With a swipe of his forefinger, he answers the call hitting the speaker icon and tossing the phone back on the nightstand. ]


JNS: “Megz, why the fuck are you calling at this ungodly hour?”


MNS: “Ungodly hour? It’s 10 am.”


JNS: “Fuck it is? Alright, yeah I am up.”


MNS: “Rough night?”


JNS: “You could say that.”


MNS: “Well shake those cobwebs because I need my brother.”


[ He sits up pulling the white sheet off his semi-naked body. He swings his legs out from under those aforementioned sheets and stretches his arms behind his head. He gives his head a final shake to wake up. ]


JNS: “What’s going on?”


MNS: “It’s Victoria... she found out about dad and Maxine...”


JNS: “Well, fuck.”


[ Victoria’s grandfather had been doing the nasty with her girlfriend, Maxine Riggs aka Mad Max, Meghan’s former protégé and partner in Alpha Pro Wrestling before their wrongful dismissal which is a whole other story that just really doesn’t matter anymore.]


MNS: “Well she grabbed the keys to Meeks Sportster and took off.”


[ He leans forward with a half-smile that translates into a weird proud feeling he had for his niece. ]


JNS: “She stole Ciara? Damn, I didn’t know the kid could ride.”


MNS: “Neither did I but I am pretty sure our old man taught her. Meeks doesn’t know yet. She’s pretty protective of that bike.”


[ Tamika Kalis definitely loved her Harley Davidson Sportster she dubbed with the name ‘Ciara’ but unlike her siblings and rest of the family (outside of Meghan) that is her worry would be with her niece’s well-being. ]


JNS: “What dad did was rotten although I think you are surprised this all didn’t happen a fuck of a lot sooner.”


[ John can hear that very audible sigh Meghan has when something is completely out of her control. He grabs his phone as he heads towards the bathroom. He puts the phone down by the sink as he leans into the tub and turns on the hot water knob followed by a small twist of the cold water. ]


MNS: “Are you in the bathroom?”


JNS: “Yeah, I’m gonna have a shower and head back down to Texas. You are lucky I am not taking this monstrous piss I have to take.”


MNS: “God, 12 years in Winnipeg took that Japanese etiquette right out of you.”


JNS: “Love you too. Don’t worry, we’ll find Victoria. She’s a Strader, the ride will clear her head and she’ll be back home. I don’t believe the kid would actually steal Tamika’s bike.”


MNS: “yeah, I know. You are right. Have your shower and let me know when you are on the way back alright? Love you.”


[ The call ends and John looks at himself in the mirror that’s starting to fog up as he drops his drawers. He looks down at the sink without actually looking at it, more just lost in thought, after a moment of it he is in the shower, and planning the route back to the compound in his head as his skin turns pink from the heat of the water. ]



Strader Estate/Compound
Houston, Texas ‘Murica
November 25th, 2020


[ John had only been home a day but he could feel the tension across the almost near 300-acre piece of property, and it was thick. He was hiding in the shop attached to the main barn on Meghan’s ranch section of the land as he didn’t mind his brother-in-law the legendary Dustin Kelser all that much and it kept him away from the old man. For the first time in actually knowing his father, he had been irritated with him. Not just with his decision to let his old dick break his granddaughter's heart but also for this heroin distribution ring he was being strong-armed into. He knew Scott was speeding up the end game; his knees were bionic from a procedure ten years ago, his hands near crippled from the heavy hits in and out of the ring, and he knew his time as the Sgt at Arms of the Nomads was coming to a close. Anyways, he’s over at a workbench where his favourite 12 gauge Shotgun laid in pieces as he was cleaning it waiting for his sister to get home. He hears the door open behind him but he doesn’t turn around. ]


JNS: “Hey Meg, just cleaning Suzie.”


Unknown: “Do you name all your guns?”


[ John stands up straight scrunching his face because he doesn’t recognize the woman’s voice he just heard. He turns around and his confused look turns to a smile as he walks over meeting his niece Victoria halfway. He takes her into a tight hug and leans back moving a strand of hair out of her perfect face. Her green eyes reminded him of his twin sister and she had Meghan’s spunk. She was a little bit of all of them and he has regretted not being around more, but things are changing. ]


JNS: “You had everyone worried. How ya feeling?”


[ He asks as he moves back over to his gun cleaning and motions for her to come with him. ]


VNS: “I needed to clear my head. A man that is supposed to love and spoil me fucked my girlfriend instead, wait sorry, EX-girlfriend, and my own family can’t tell me it’s going on?”


[ He turns to her and then looks for the stools he found earlier. He grabs them placing one for her then himself as they take a seat. ]


JNS: “Doll, it’s not someone’s place to do that. Your mom loves you, kid. She really fucking does. I remember I was sitting at the table at the clubhouse in Winnipeg going over garage business when my phone rang. She called me first when she found out she had found you or maybe you found us I don't know but I absolutely excited to have another niece.”


VNS: “I really appreciate that, my brain knows that but my heart is hurting, Uncle John. I don’t know how to handle this kind of betrayal...”


[ Tears are forming in the eyes of his young niece and before he even knows he’s doing it, his arm is around her as he slides his stool closer. She bursts into a heavy sob as her face pressed into his shirt as his kutte is hanging off the side of the workbench. ]


JNS: “I think you need to get out of here. I am going to be relocating to California soon, out in the Redwoods maybe... you should come with me.”


[ Her sobbing starts to slow as her left hand comes up to wipe a few tears away before she looks up at him. ]


VNS: “Really? California?”


[ He wipes away a tear with his thumb as he cups her face gently with his left hand. ]


JNS: “Yeah, this place will eat you alive. Why do you think I holed myself up in Winnipeg for twelve fucking years? For the -40 winters?”


[ She can’t help but chuckle but she’s unconvinced and he sees it. ]


JNS: “Rumor has it that there’s a big announcement coming at the next Proving Grounds. I’m not booked but I am heading to Greensboro, North Carolina anyway because I need Indy to hear something from me. You’ve been training, I know you have, cause Tamika told me she’s been helping the old man get you up to snuff. I think you could use the break away from all this bullshit here, away from your mom and Aunt Tamika, cause kid, you took Ciara.”


[ The young Strader can’t help but laugh gently causing him to smile cause it was starting to work. He stands up and kisses her on the top of her head and pulls in for a hug which isn’t fought in the slightest. She looks up at him wiping her tears once more. ]


VNS: “Thank you...”


JNS: “Anytime, kid.”


[ He squeezes her shoulder and heads over to his kutte, putting it on, and reaches inside to pull out his pack of joints he rolled earlier. He slips one between his lips and offers the pack to her but she politely declines. ]


VNS: “Is Aunt ‘Mika fuming?”


JNS: “I was teasing, my sisters they can sometimes appear like they insufferable, but they really have huge hearts, and my gran loves the fuck out of you, kid. Once you got her blessing you are set”


[ Her frown has turned upside down as they say as he gently puts his elbow into her side. ]


VNS: “Well I parked it in her garage with a full tank, and I polished it.”


JNS: “Well she’s out with your mom anyway. Dustin was here but I think my sisters told the husbands to leave me alone. Are you hungry? Let’s go get something to eat, alright? You’ll ride with me on my old Dyna Gran stored away for when I visit.”


VNS: “Sonics?”


[He smiles and nods as they head out of the garage starting on a new chapter as John’s bottom rocker is no longer on his kutte but his president flash is still stitched in.]



Strader Estate/Compound
December 8th, 2020
Houston, Texas ‘Murica


[ Our scene opens up at the Strader compound where the family has built a small building that has a wrestling ring, gym equipment, and a small locker room to change and shower. Our vision is upon the wrestling ring as John Nash Strader is training with his tag team partner and niece. John’s in his boots, black jeans tight around his waist with a Brothers of Mayhem gold belt buckle, a white tank top, his fists taped, and his semi-long hair is pulled back in a ponytail with sweat on his brow. He’s in a basic grapple with Victoria who is in white running shoes, black LuLu Lemon pants, a pink tank top, and her is pulled back in a high ponytail. Her pale green eyes are intense right now, he notices and can’t help but smile. He grabs her by the shoulder breaking the grapple to knee her in the gut but her left-hand strikes him quickly it catches him off guard as she uses the opportunity to wrap her hands around his thigh twist into him bring them both down to the mat but her elbow gets him square in the jaw. ]


JNS: *panting* “God damn kid you trying to kill me?”


VNS:*panting* “Hey I might die in my first match ever outside these little trysts, I need the practice.”


[ John sits up and can’t help but let out a chuckle and a ‘Ya’ nod at her. He pulls himself up by the ropes and gives her hand up. He walks over to the turnbuckle grabbing a couple of towels that were placed there earlier. He tosses one to her as he leans back into the turnbuckle wiping down his face. ]


JNS: “We’ll take advantage of this training facility as much as we can, kiddo. Times running out.”


VNS: “Wait, did you find a place?”


[ The right corner of his mouth lifts into a half-smile and a wink of the right eye. ]


VNS: “Really?”


JNS: “Escrow has to clear ya, but yours truly will the be the owner of an old firehouse station in Redwood City, California. Right out on the peninsula of San Francisco.”


[ She basically tackles him with her hug. She lets go and her smile couldn’t be bigger. ]


VNS: “Oh Uncle John that’s the best thing I have heard since you offered to take me in! But I wanna contribute ok?”


JNS: “Don’t worry about that right now. We have a match to get ready for... we are going to show Project Honor- - -”


START BROADCAST


[ John is cut off by the sound of a heavy metal door slamming shut as our screens come to life and he turns to see his old man and Maxine Riggs (Victoria’s ex standing there) but misses Harold slip in behind with his camera rolling and eyes pinned from his opiate issues. John can’t hear them but he can tell Max is trying to tell Scott to come back later but he shrugs it off and walks in. He walks up towards the ring and John can see his niece is uncomfortable but he also sees the Strader rage burning behind those pale green eyes of hers. He walks forward holding his hand out towards his old man for him to stop. ]


SNS: “Let’s not forget whose this whole thing belongs to.”


JNS: “Yeah, Gran.”


[ Scott smirks at the defiance coming from his son. The old man points to his national Sgt At Arms flash over his right pectoral before responding. ]


SNS: “Remember who you are talking to son. Like it or not, this flash outranks yours down here.”


JNS: “Maybe I don’t care, pops.”


VNS: “Uncle John, grandpa this isn’t- - -”


[ Scott doesn’t even look at his granddaughter as he points to silence her. John’s eyes go wide and that same Strader fire he saw in hers moments ago was ablaze in his. He takes the steps forward to meet his dad who now stands centre ring. Scott has five inches on his son, about 65 pounds too but John never underestimated anyone based on size and he knew where the old bastard was weak. ]


JNS: “Remember when I told you ‘Dad, don’t make me choose between you and my sisters’ right?”


SNS: “I don’t see how this - - -”


JNS: *cutting him off* Well you just made me choose.”


[ Scott has a confused look on his face but it isn’t for long as John cracks him square across the jaw with his right elbow. Victoria by this time slid out of the ring and stands beside Max crossing her arms, turning her head deadpan glaring at her before turning her head back towards the ring and of course Max won’t look at her like the coward she has been since getting caught. Scott nods as his nostrils flare in anger spitting some blood out onto the canvas as John gives him that arrogant cocky smile of his. The old man takes off his Bandido’s kutte placing it on the mat gently beside him but his son didn’t hesitate grappling him real quick to bring a knee into his dad's midsection. Scott grunts as he takes a stiff right to his jaw again but he pushes forward tackling John into the turnbuckle. Unbeknownst to them Harold the Camerman had come in filming and has been standing beside Victoria and Max almost since the beginning of this whole ordeal with his tripod camera filming the events of the past few moments set off in the corner of the makeshift warehouse training centre. Startled, Victoria punches him in the shoulder but he’s jacked up (or is it down?) on opiates so it doesn’t hurt him all that much. ]


VNS: “Jesus Harold, how long have you been there?”


Harold: “Oh I followed your grandpa in, thought maybe I could watch again.”


VNS: “Watch what? No, wait, don’t answer that.”


[ Harold shrugs as Max facepalms. Meanwhile back in the ring, John has gotten himself out of the corner and is exchanging hard rights and lefts pushing the old man backward as John’s pure strikes are wearing him down with every knuckle to jaw connect. John is damn near frothing at the mouth as well as his dad as this was more than people need to know about it. Suddenly a booming female voice causes both men to stop and look in that direction to see Tamika Kalis, better known as Tamika Nash Strader standing there with her arms on her hips. ]


TNS: “What in the actual fuck is wrong with you two?’


SNS: “Tamika, baby girl this doesn’t concern y- - -”


[ John has grabbed Scott by the collar again. ]


JNS: “Watch what you say to her.”


TNS: “ENOUGH! This training facility is built on my section of the compound so it is my damn business, dad. Both of you out of the ring right now!”


[ Both men begrudgingly exit the ring as Tamika’s nostrils flare at the idiocy of the two Strader men, the whole family could smell the dissension a few weeks ago after a club meeting of which they didn’t know the details and didn’t want too either. Tamika looks coldly at Max. ]


TNS: “Was this fun for you?”


Mad Max: “Hey, I tried to stop him.”


TNS: “Not hard enough. Get the hell out of my training facility. Right fucking now. Both of you. OUT!”


[ Scott wasn’t used to Tamika being so abrupt, that was more of a Meghan thing but he was glad it wasn’t her cause she might’ve pulled a gun on him. He’s been avoiding his oldest child like the plague after hurting her kid so deeply. Victoria brings John his towel as he nods in thanks wiping the blood and sweat off his face. He shakes his head as he watches his old man leave the building. He looks over at his twin sister and slightly lowers his head. ]


JNS: “Sorry, Meeks.”


[ She walks over and places her hand gently on his shoulder. ]


TNS: “It’s ok, I know this is a shitty situation. Victoria, thanks for bringing my Sportster home full of gas and all polished up. Ciara is happy.”


VNS: “Sorry about that, I needed to clear my head and the thunderheads drown out the sounds...”


[ Her aunt smiles at her and gives her a hug. She looks back over at John and winks at him as she speaks to Victoria. ]


TNS: “Take care of my brother, and don’t be strangers after your move.”


VNS: “Wait, how did you know?”


TNS: “A sister and an aunt know all. Maybe see Gran and Meghan before you go?”


JNS: “Yeah, you know it. We’ll be heading to Redwood City in the morning.”


[ Tamika hugs her brother tight and sighs as she pulls back looking at him sadly. ]


TNS: “Just when I had you back, dad had to go be himself and fuck it up for all of us.”


[ He stands up and smiles back at her. ]


JNS: “It is what it is.”


VNS: “So Ummm... Harold’s been filming since you and gramps started tossing each other around the ring.”


[ John snaps his head to Harold who eats another handful of morphine pills in a variety of types and waves back with a smile. ]


JNS: “Well fuck, guess we might as well do this thing huh?”


[ Tamika waves at the camera and the Project: Honor with a goofy smile for the fans before slipping away but not without a hug for her niece. Victoria walks off-screen as John takes front and centre sitting down on the steps up to the ring. ]


JNS: “Well, Project Honor, you just got a look inside the life of being a member of my family. We all love each other but sometimes some of us are asshats.”


[ He sighs slightly as he grabs a soft pack of Marlboro’s as he smacks one death stick free from its confines. A flick of a zippo and he takes a deep drag exhaling out his nose as she shakes his head. ]


JNS: “When I first decided to come back to wrestling after twelve years away from the ring I knew one of two things could happen: a) I fall flat on my face or b) walk in here like I own the fucking place and I have done exactly that. I get shit for pulling a gun on Pat The Postman but not given credit for being innovative in a hardcore match. I get shit on for beating the so-called doormat of P.H. and then pinning the current Rising Star champion in Sarah Roberts doesn’t seem to be a good enough start.”


“I am 3-0 going on 4 and not many can say they achieved that out of the gate with the exception being Dickie and his Grand title and at least I won my fucking tag match. The sheer and utter arrogance of some people is disturbing. I mean you have people naming championships and giving them a gender identity. You have so-called 'Outlaws' not putting down their second biggest threat outside of yours truly. Lil Petey makes more sense than the lot of you after taking the Big Drip from Yung Sauce, or is it Yung Gravy?

[ He shrugs. ]


"Anyway.”


“Sometimes I think people think I am always going to do what’s right especially after I came out and backed up the future PH Tag Team Champions, and that’s true but the key difference being I am going to do what is best for me, and now my niece as well. I’m digging the heels of my snakeskin boots into the ground here in Project: Honor and I will show each every last member of this stacked roster just exactly who the fuck I am. The name is John Nash Strader in case you have been living under a rock, and this is my fucking town now. People think my motorcycle, my club is all just for show but it’s a way of fucking life, just like wrestling is. You don’t half-ass something in either of my worlds and I give a full 200% to those lifestyle choices.”


[ His right eyebrow as he takes another, once again sending the second hand out through his nose. ]


“That X-Factor Championship to date hasn’t meant all that much, has it? I mean take a look at a guy like Dickie and the Grand Championship. That tough son of a bitch has gone 7 and 1 with no losses in singles competition this year AND has defended the Grand Championship on multiple occasions. He’s made that title mean something. There’s a hungry roster for that title... and not the X-Factor strap. A Champion is only as good as the contenders they put down and that championship hasn't done anything like that.”


[ His fingers graze his lips as he takes another drag, again exhaling through his nose. ]


“That needs to change. The stink of that so-called ‘Outlaw’ is all over that title. Isn’t his win-loss now dipping to the right? If not well I am sure MYOJIN will get the job done. You pushed the kid way to fucking far, he might end your career permanently. See that’s exactly what makes me think you are nothing but a phony. A real outlaw would’ve taken care of business and ended it at proving Ground #9. Although we really shouldn’t be surprised should we? I mean your track record is piss poor, you weaseled your way out of Zane taking the title from you after that bullshit non-title match my future ex wife worked out for you and attempted a kidnaping right in fucking public. Then you go and lose the title to the second biggest loser here in the form of Indy Darling.”


“You made this title mean nothing and I am going to be the one to change that. It sure won’t be Indy. I mean this guy runs his mouth at me, can’t save his partner to get a win, then lets me distract him long enough for the new guy in town to get one up on him. Also, what the hell is this thing about giving that belt a gender identity? It’s a championship belt and the utter disrespect shown to that strap makes me sickwhich brings me to everyone’s favourite darling, Indy.”


[ John flicks his ash off onto the ground and rubs it out with his boot. He looks back into the camera lens and his ice-cold blues dance with fire. ]


“You know, I really wanted to try and respect you. I truly did Indy, then you started running your mouth on social media with “A real champion always competes” when you didn’t have the title on the line not to mention the fact I go directly to the brass and ask to be booked after the show and it will be the same after Unbreakable Resolution. I don’t run or hide from anything, Darling. Never have, never fucking will.”


“To be completely honest, I knew you would be pissed to see me out there. I knew that distraction would get you to a point where you requested exactly what I wanted. I laid the traps and you walked right fucking into them. Don’t even bother trying to tell me different, because I work the mind games better than you could ever fucking hope too big guy. You say I don’t matter to you but my name was uttered out of your mouth consistently for a month so maybe find a new obsession. Also you were so sure I would hurt the old man that my name left your lips once again. You say I am not worth the time to blame, yet again, my name spilled out of your mouth. I might be an asshole Indy, but I am not a dick. The only time I would hurt someone is if they crossed me or ran their mouth as you have.”


“You brought up my family history, which has over 30 titles when you add them all up, made a cliché of a joke about kissing cousins, and how we all have family in the business. You are right about one thing though Indy... I haven’t been pushed to my limit yet but what I have done is find ways to win like a real competitor while you have found ways to lose.”


“That’s what you are Indy, a loser. It’s sad that my stiffest competition yet is the guy in a Canadian Tuxedo with cheap aviators. Not just a loser but the butt of a lot of jokes. I mean sure, you have faced ten hungry competitors, but then you go and say that my opponents having meant shit but I still won and pinned Sarah Roberts, the current Rising Star champion because you came up short and let your partner down. I didn’t do that, just ask the new GM of the Fallout brand. You let people down consistently.”


“As cliché as it is to say, and I have said it before, you are the one stuck in that cage with me. The thoughts that run through my head... the bad thoughts. The ones I embrace fully as long as it pushes shit ahead. I am going to hurt you, Darling. I am going to use that cage as a weapon. I will make you bleed. I will do whatever the fuck I need to do to take that X-Factor Championship, stay on the Proving Ground brand on FX, and make that title mean something. I'll even leave my piece with my bike, you big baby.”


[ He goes to take another drag but the long ash hangs there from him going off on a bit of tangent. He puts it out on the step and stands up, he nods over off-camera to Victoria and she knows what to do. She appears on our screen as she hands John his kutte. He puts it on and does up the top button holding onto the collar with his hands on either side letting his arms hang down as she moves back off-screen. ]


“Big changes are coming at all fronts. Victoria and I are heading to Redwood City. Rock Johnson has created another brand due to the sheer size of the roster and the smart deals made with FX and AMC under Project Honor. It’s an exciting time in Project Honor and somebody other than Dickie Watson needs to step up and truly make Proving Ground the brand to be apart of. I am leaving the Rockies the X-Factor Champion. No stupid fucking names. No assigning genders, It’ll be a championship belt held by a real competitor. A true Champion. A Strader.”


“I am the three most feared initials in professional wrestling... the one true Outlaw of Project Honor, regardless of the brand, and there is not one god damn thing you can do about it.”


[ He’s about to motion to Harold to cut the feed but suddenly he chuckles to himself and looks back at us at all. ]


“Indy, since you like to make jokes here is one for you: I am just going to imagine that I threw you into the bathtub and you came out Marlboro Red and just so I can smoke your ass.”


“See you on the 20th, Unbreakable Resolution will be one to remember.”


[ He nods towards his hooker fiend cameraman to end the feed on the infamous Strader sneer from the future X-Factor Champion. ]